UniGlobe The Travel Times: Travel News

Canada’s Biggest Hotel Gets a Brand New Name

May 2, 2013

Langham Hospitality Group has recently announced that the former Delta Chelsea – Canada’s largest hotel, located in downtown Toronto – will be officially re-branded Eaton Chelsea, Toronto beginning July 1st.  The hotel will be the first of its kind in Canada and joins other Eaton Hotels located in Hong Kong, Shanghai and New Delhi.

A multi-million dollar investment program for the hotel has already begun and includes beautifying the exterior, refurbishing the lobby and Market Garden Restaurant, and extensively upgrading the interiors of the banquet and meeting facilities.

As Canada’s largest hotel with 1,590 guest rooms, Eaton Chelsea, Toronto is centrally located and steps from the city’s best shopping districts, world-class theatres, vibrant nightlife and exciting attractions. A full-service urban resort, Eaton Chelsea has room types to suit everyone and the hotel offers five restaurants and lounges, separate adult and family recreation areas and pools – including the “Corkscrew” – downtown Toronto’s only indoor waterslide.

As a premier family destination, the hotel offers a full range of services including the Family Fun Zone with Camp Chelsea, Kid Centre and Club 33 Teen Lounge. For more information or to make reservations, please call 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or visit chelsea.eatonhotels.com.

Save 30% on Dressed N Case Beach Cover Ups

March 15, 2013

We’ve written before about Dressed ‘N’ Case, the “original cover-up that’s a dress and purse in one”. It’s a must have if you’re heading to any tropical destination, or just looking for something to wear at the local pool or beach this summer.

These cute cover-up/purse combos are perfect for packing, easy to wear, and a great way to double, triple, or even quadruple your wardrobe. It’s both a beach cover-up and an ideal around-town dress in one!

For one week only Dressed ‘N’ Case products are $34.95 at Canada The Store (regular retail price $49.00), but only while quantities last.

Visit CanadaTheStore.com before March 22, 2012 and get yourself a great travel accessory!

Echoes of Earth – Finding Ourselves in the Origins of the Planet

February 25, 2013

For as long as can be remembered, human kind has been fascinated with where we came from. Echoes of Earth: Finding Ourselves in the Origins of the Planet explores this fascination and follows two intrepid travellers as they journey to some of the most remote regions of the world and discover the beauty of ancient rock formations that hold the secrets of our origins.

“We expected to bring back only images for a photo-essay book,” says author Sue Baugh. “We did not expect to be transformed as artists or to discover that our human origins lie hidden in the story of the oldest stones. Our bodies carry ancient minerals deep without our bones and ancient life within our human cells.”

Baugh and her colleague Lynn Martinelli travelled by airplane, camper car, fishing boat, float plane, and river raft to photograph some of the oldest rock and mineral sites on the planet.  The final product is an incredible compilation of images and narrative that capture the beauty and magic of a world untouched by time.

“The power and beauty of these ancient sites radically changed our perception of the world and humanity’s place in it. We invite you to explore the mystery of what we encountered, that we carry the long history of the planet within us. We are all echoes of Earth.” – Sue Baugh

Echoes of Earth: Finding Ourselves in the Origins of the Planet is available on Amazon.com and www.wildstonearts.com

Casco Viejo: The future of Panama City is found in its past

February 12, 2013

Photo credit: Tamara Aguilar

By Kaitlin Sullivan

Panama City, or simply ‘Panama’ to the locals, is a city to keep your eye on in the next five years. New Panama City’s high-rise skyline and swanky nightlife contrasts the pastel colonial Casco Viejo district. In whimsical Casco Viejo, fauna grows freely in the dirt that once was tiled floor. Markets are held in the crumbling ruins of plaster buildings and narrow cobblestone streets are framed by caving sidewalks, only wide enough for one person to trod.

Kuna Women, collections of beaded bracelets adorning their calves, sell molas in open-air markets. Brightly colored birds and geometric designs composed of fabric and carefully stitched thread hang from carts and tables. Motifs can be seen throughout the hand-crafted molas but each one remains an original. Prices range from USD$10.00 to hundreds for the larger or more ornate pieces. It’s best to purchase these iconic artworks directly from the Kuna people. Purchasing molas at a gift shop means risking authenticity. The Kuna are recognized as one of the most well-preserved indigenous cultures. Purchasing molas directly from a Kuna person ensures funding this culture preservation.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Casco Viejo’s facelift is well underway. The restoration of popular attractions such as Teatro Nacional means doors are closed to the public while construction is underway. The current state of Casco Viejo is a necessary annoyance to preserve the historic district. Scaffolding and barricades can be found on nearly every street. Early-morning jackhammers ring through the alleyways and, inevitably, into the windows of the neighborhood hostels, hotels and B&Bs.

As in any city, take caution when walking at night. With all the construction, it’s easy to find yourself in the slums that boarder Casco Viejo to the east. Remnants of what used to be the entire district, residents of the barrio sleep on pieces of cardboard in homes hardly as large as one-car garages but of similar stature. English can be hard to come by even with the tourist police force.

As a whole, Panama City is a hot spot that should be on everyone’s “To Do” list. Casco Viejo is a special slice of the city. Still free of chain restaurants and hotels, a traveler can enjoy boutique-style cafes and quaint accommodations. Though at the moment, its a bit of a beautiful mess, paying a visit to Casco Viejo has a way of making one thankful for the noisy, dusty, inconvenient construction. The Panamanian government is polishing the diamond that is Casco Viejo so this pastel facet of Panama City can get the recognition it deserves.

The History of Chinese New Year

February 8, 2013

Although it has undergone many changes since first celebrated in 2000 B.C., the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China.

Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the 15-day celebration is a time to honor household and heavenly duties, as well as ancestors. It is also a time for the family to gather and feast.

via History.com

Galapagos for free?

January 7, 2013

Photo credit: Metorpolitan Touring

It’s true. Metropolitan Touring has just announced a new incentive for the Canadian market: Travel aboard La Pinta on either the January 18 or February 01 departures and your airfare from Quito or Guayaquil to/from Galapagos is free. Each departure is 8 Days / 7 Nights and you are assured to be amazed by the natural beauty and wildlife of the Galapagos.

Plus, you will receive two free nights at Casa Gangotena in Quito, Ecuador.

For more information, contact Francisco at Metropolitan Touring today!

Delta Chelsea EV Hot Spot

December 18, 2012

Photo credit: www.holidaycheck.de

The Delta Chelsea Hotel, Canada’s largest hotel and located in downtown Toronto, has recently installed a Sun Country Highway’s (SCH) publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging station.

Guests of the hotel who travel by EV can conveniently charge their vehicles during their stay. Sun Country Highway’s mission is to ‘Green Canada’s Highway’s’ in collaboration with tourism destinations such as Toronto and this installation will become part of 100 charging stations across Canada before year-end.

“The Delta Chelsea recognizes and respects its corporate social responsibility ensuring that our quest for sustainable solutions continues to grow and evolve. As a 4 Green Key ECOmmodation rated property from the Hotel Association of Canada, this initiative represents our ongoing efforts to improve our environmental performance,” says Ron Pellerine, General Manager, Delta Chelsea Hotel.

The (EV) charging station is the world’s first UL listed electric vehicle charging station and provides the fastest charge times and highest power rating. It uses a universal adapter allowing a variety of electric vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks and bikes for maximum compatibility.